Torque Wrench

jimpastorius · **Posted:** Thu Sep 27, 2007 9:37 am

I need to find a torque wrench that measures in in.lbs. Does any one know who carries these or have one I could borrow this weekend.

Wes Eargle · **Joined:** Mon Oct 27, 2003 9:47 am **Posts:** 3683

jimpastorius wrote:

I need to find a torque wrench that measures in in.lbs. Does any one know who carries these or have one I could borrow this weekend.

I bought a 3/8" one from Advanced Auto for ~$15. It's come in handy for keeping me from doing dumb stuff like overtorquing spark plugs.

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Thu Sep 27, 2007 9:47 am

Lowes carries them as well.

jimpastorius · **Posted:** Thu Sep 27, 2007 9:48 am

Wes Eargle wrote:

jimpastorius wrote:

I need to find a torque wrench that measures in in.lbs. Does any one know who carries these or have one I could borrow this weekend.

I bought a 3/8" one from Advanced Auto for ~$15. It's come in handy for keeping me from doing dumb stuff like overtorquing spark plugs.

I need to be able to set the torque to about 17 in-lb. I did not think the one at Advance went that low when I looked last night.

Wes Eargle · **Joined:** Mon Oct 27, 2003 9:47 am **Posts:** 3683

They're wonky like that. I believe that the lowest that mine will click is 12 inch pounds, but I really don't recall.

Is this something that is mission-critical to be torqued to that spec, or is that rating a "just don't Chuck Norris it on there with an impact gun"?

Scott Johnson · **Posted:** Thu Sep 27, 2007 10:00 am

Pretty sure the 3/8 drive model from sears will go that low.

What are you trying to do with it? The clicker type won't work to set the pre-load on a differential pinion.

This one might work. I doubt they have it in the store though.

jimpastorius · **Posted:** Thu Sep 27, 2007 10:11 am

scottjohnson wrote:

Pretty sure the 3/8 drive model from sears will go that low.

What are you trying to do with it? The clicker type won't work to set the pre-load on a differential pinion.

This one might work. I doubt they have it in the store though.

That is exactly what I am looking for and it is for setting the pre-load on the pinion.

I decide to bail out on swapping the gears for the final two events of the year. But now I need to put it all back together.

Graham Jagger · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 12:53 am **Posts:** 1718

I have the Sears 3/8" drive in/lb torque wrench. Not the digital or beam style. Typical twist the handle type. It wasn't cheap. Cost me $80 or so. Not sure if it will go to 17 in/lb though I'd have to look.

you're welcome to try it though and you're not that far from my house.

Wes Eargle · **Joined:** Mon Oct 27, 2003 9:47 am **Posts:** 3683

scottjohnson wrote:

The clicker type won't work to set the pre-load on a differential pinion.

Interesting. Why not?

Richard Casto · **Posted:** Thu Sep 27, 2007 1:38 pm

Wes Eargle wrote:

scottjohnson wrote:

The clicker type won't work to set the pre-load on a differential pinion.

Interesting. Why not?

I have not done this procedure myself, but I am guessing that you want to measure the torque as the pinion rotates. And that with a clicker type you will probably need more torque to get it rotating than what the final torque will be for it rotating.

So using Jim's 17 in-lb example, it might take 20 in-lbs to get it moving (inertia + pinion bearing load). But by then the clicker will have clicked and released so once it is moves you may not know what the actual pinion torque is. But with an analog style you might see it peak momentarly at 20 and then move steadily at 17?

George Bright · **Posted:** Thu Sep 27, 2007 5:57 pm

Jim I guess you could use a short pull bar and a and a spring scale. This is the method shown in my Datsun factory shop manual.

jimpastorius · **Posted:** Fri Sep 28, 2007 9:45 am

George Bright wrote:

Jim I guess you could use a short pull bar and a and a spring scale. This is the method shown in my Datsun factory shop manual.

You know, I may have to resort to this method. I even looked on snap-on's website and they do not list a torque wrench that goes down to 1-2 in.lbs.

Sears carries on beam type that shows in 5 in lb increments.

The only good thing is that I know that pinion nut showed two threads when it was seated.

Lesson learned is to make sure you have all the tools necessary before starting a project. Not having the pinion depth tool made me decide to bag the gear change until the off-season. I had no idea an in.lb torque wrench would be next to impossible to track down.

Graham Jagger · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 12:53 am **Posts:** 1718

I checked my Crafstman 3/8 drive torque wrench last night. 25-250 in/lb adjustable in 1 in/lb increments. The bar scale increments in 25 in/lb. The handle turns 1-24 in/lbs.

Richard Casto · **Posted:** Fri Sep 28, 2007 12:26 pm

jimpastorius wrote:

George Bright wrote:

Jim I guess you could use a short pull bar and a and a spring scale. This is the method shown in my Datsun factory shop manual.

You know, I may have to resort to this method.

Jim, I found this page...

http://bernardembden.com/xjs/diff/index.htm

...in which he does something similar. This guy uses static weights, but I think that an arm like George mentions and an accurate spring scale would work better.

jimpastorius · **Posted:** Fri Sep 28, 2007 12:43 pm

Richard Casto wrote:

Jim, I found this page...

http://bernardembden.com/xjs/diff/index.htm

...in which he does something similar. This guy uses static weights, but I think that an arm like George mentions and an accurate spring scale would work better.

Thanks Richard, that is a pretty good write up. I have the stock to make the yoke holder. You can put the gun on it, but I think for the first time I will use muscle on it.

I wish I had read this before I took it all apart though :shock:

It would have been great to have the pre-load specs beforehand.

As one person described, it is like voodoo magic. That is why he sends his out.

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